Chapter 16

The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting warm streaks of gold across the stone floors of Kaden’s packhouse. Althea sat at the long dining table, her hands folded nervously in her lap as the rich aroma of breakfast wafted through the air. The spread in front of her was unlike anything she’d ever seen: freshly baked bread, sizzling bacon, colorful fruit, and steaming coffee. It looked perfect, but Althea hadn’t touched a single thing. Across the table, Kaden lounged in his chair with effortless ease, his silver eyes locked on her. He had one arm draped over the back of the chair, the other lifting a cup of coffee to his lips. He looked maddeningly relaxed, as though the night before hadn’t completely unraveled her world. “You’re not eating,” Kaden said, his voice smooth and calm, but there was a quiet edge to it that made her skin prickle. “I’m not really hungry,” Althea replied quickly, avoiding his gaze. She didn’t trust herself to look at him, not when her mind